Head-rest for beds.



J. G. RYAN. HEAD REST FOR BEDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1909.

942,354. Patented Dc.7,1909.

IIIIIIM INVENTUH flax-m .HYAN.

JOHN G. RYAN, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

HEAD-REST FOR BEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. *7, 1909.

Application filed. June 14, 1909. Serial No. 502,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. RYAN, of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head- Rests for Beds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an attachment designed to be secured to beds, lounges or the like, and comprises an adjustable rest adapted to support the head and shoulders of an occupant of the bed and being adjustable to any angle within 90.

In the drawings which illustrate the inventionz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed showing the head rest attached thereto in operative position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane 56 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of an alternative form of a friction collar.

Referring to the drawings, 7 designates the side rails of a bed provided with the usual end rail 8 and posts 9. Attached to the side rails, are plates 10 which are secured by rivets or other means to the side rails extending over the top of same and having narrow depending flanges 11 extending downwardly over the inner edge of the side rails. The plates 10 are provided, on the outer edge with deep flanges 12 which extend below the side rails and are preferably curved at the bottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Near the lower edges the flanges 12 are provided with a curved slot 13 within which slides the pin or rod carrying the head rest.

The head rest proper consists of side bars let connected by the end bar 15 and being provided with intermediate rods or bars 16 to hold the mattress in position. The side bars 1 1 constitute levers which are pivoted at 17 to the outside of the flanges 12. The lower ends 18 of the levers 1 1 beyond the pivotal points, are bent backwardly at an angle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The short arm levers 18 thus formed, are provided at their extremities with apertures adapted to receive the rod 19 which extends through the ends of the short arm levers, through the slots 13, and across underneath the bed between the flanges 12. A pipe 20 of considerably larger diameter than the rod surrounds the latter and is adapted to abut against the inner sides of the flanges 12. Friction washers 21 are inserted between the ends of the tubes 20 and the flanges 12.

One end of the rod 19 is threaded, as indicated at 22, and is adapted to receive a hand wheel 23 threaded on to the end of the rod and adapted to be tightened or loosened at will. The rod 19 at the opposite end is held in position by any suitable means such as an enlarged head 24. When the hand wheel 23 is tightened up, the rod 19 is drawn through the wheel, the enlarged head 2% and the collar 25 pressing on the outer sides of the short arm levers, and the tube 20 with the washers 21 being pressed against the inner sides of the flanges 12. The levers can thus be held in position friotionally by tightening the hand wheel 23 and the head rest held rigid. To adjust the head rest, the hand wheel is turned in the opposite direction and the parts released. To assist in raising the head rest and to maintain same normally in raised position, I provide a spring 26 operating within a casing 27 which is preferably formed integral with the plates 10. A rod 28 pivoted at 29 to the short arm levers 18, passes through the spring through an enlarged opening 30 in the front of the casing, and is provided with a nut 31 which holds the rod in position. When the head rest is forceddownwardly, the rod 28 is carried forward against the tension of the spring 26. The head rest can then be locked in this downward position by means of the hand wheel 23. Upon releasing the hand wheel the spring 26 will operate to raise or assist in raising the head rest and the occupant of the bed.

In Fig. 4 I have shown an alternative form of the washer 21. In this form the washer designated 31 is provided with a neck 32 which enters the tube 20 as before. The ends of the tube abut against the outer edge of the washer which is provided with a point 33 adapted to frictionally engage the inner edge of the depending flange 12.

This device is very simple, inexpensive and easily operated, and can be attached to the sides of any bed with great ease.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A head rest comprising a U-shaped frame, the side members of said frame being pivoted near the free ends thereof and the portions between the pivotal points and the free ends being bent to form short arm levers, plates having depending flanges se- I the depending cured t0 the side rails of the bed, said flanges having curved slots in the lower sides thereof, the sides of said frame being pivoted to flanges of the plates, a rod extending through the free ends of said side members and operating in the slots in the flanges, a tube surrounding said rod between the flanges, means for frictionally holding said frame in position, and a. spring attached to the short arm levers and adapted to hold the head rest normally in raised position.

2. A head rest comprising a U-shaped frame having the side members of said frame near the free ends bent to form short arm levers, plates having depending flanges secured to the side rails of the bed, said flanges having curved slots in the lower edges thereof, the side members of said frame being pivoted to the outside of the flanges of said plates, a rod connecting the free extremities of said short arm levers and operating in the slots in said flanges, a tube surrounding said rod between the flanges, means for tightening said rods to hold the extremities of said frame in frictional c011- in a casing secured to said plates, and a rod operating within said spring and attached to the short arm levers of the side frame to hold the head rest in normally raised position.

8. A head rest for beds comprising the combination with the side rails, of plates secured thereto, depending tegral with said plates, said flanges being provided at the bottom with curved slots, and a head rest consisting of side arms connected by an end rail, said side arms being pivoted to the depending flanges, and a rod connecting the ends of the levers and extending through the slots in the side flanges, a tubular member inclosing the rod between the flanges, said rod being provided with means to lock same in any desired position. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. RYAN.

lVitnesses STUART R. V. ALLEN, E. R. MCKENZIE.

flanges formed in- 

